Beam Steering and Control Algorithm for 5-18GHz Transmit/Receive Module Based Active Planar Array

Abstract

With the advent of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology in the design and development of advanced multi-target handling Radar and Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, a new EW system with a Phased Array of a uniform spacing was developed, whose beam can be controlled using adaptive software programs. The critical EW system is recognized with miniaturized Planar Arrays using Transmit/Receive modules or T-R modules. The T-R modules use a novel core technology for the development of AESA technology. The planar arrays are miniaturized using multifunctional Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMIC) with an inbuilt digital circuitry for beam steering, which requires high quality and different levels of programming using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA's). The AESA generally consists of thousands of T-R modules which can individually spread their signal emissions out across a band of the frequencies and sensitively receive the echoes from target objects, allowing it to broadcast transmitting signals while remaining stealthy and greatly increasing the detection and tracking abilities. Implementation of beam steering and control algorithms has to be designed in the frequency of 5–18 GHz for T-R module based planar arrays.